ANTIOCH — Black Diamond Lines will host its annual spring show March 28-29 and April 4-5 at the clubhouse at 425 Fulton Shipyard Road.

The show of the club’s operating HO-scale layout will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. A swap meet is also planned from 8 a.m. to noon on the east side of the clubhouse. For swap meet information, call Robert Rodgers at 925-778-4950.

PITTSBURG — Give Always to Others and Company will host its annual Cesar E. Chavez State Holiday Concert from 2 to 5 p.m. March 29 at the Creative Arts Building, 250 School St.

The event will feature Tijuana native Berta Olivia and Mariachi Mexicanisimo, as well as Ballet Folklorico dancing and Guillermo “Bill” Muniz singing Mexican classics. Also planned are a variety of exhibits depicting the civil rights leader’s journey and the struggle of farm workers.

Tickets are $20 a the door, $15 in advance at Raley’s, 1329 Buchanan Road.

Seniors, 62 and older, and children under 12 will be admitted free of charge. For more information, call 925-439-2558 or www.gatonco.org.

This year’s exhibits, titled “Cultivating Young Talent 2009,” showcase artworks from eight schools. The first exhibit features student works from Antioch, Deer Valley and Dozier Libby high schools. Additional schools will be showcasing their works through May 9.

For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.art4antioch.org. or call 925-779-7018. The Art4Schools program is sponsored by a Keller Canyon Mitigation Grant, provided by Contra Costa County District V Supervisor Federal Glover and the city of Antioch.

The Lynn House Gallery is at 809 W. First St. in the Rivertown District, and is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during exhibits from noon to 5 p.m.

Other performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and March 27-28 and at 2 p.m. Sunday and March 29.

The Tim Kelly play is directed by Frank J. Ballesteros. It stars Rita Marie Ortiz, 17, of Brentwood.

Tickets are $12 adults, $10 children and seniors.

Also on tap is “The Magic Lamp of Aladdin” from April 17-26. For reservations, call 925-777-0859.

‘Little Mermaid’ auditions set

ANTIOCH — Frank J. Ballesteros Productions will hold auditions for “The Little Mermaid” at 1 and 7 p.m. March 28 and 30 at the Virginia J. Calisesi Studio Theater, 512 W. Second St.

Performances for that show are May 1-3 and 8-9. A $100 participation fee will be charged for “Mermaid.” Actors 8 and older may audition.

For more information, call 925-777-0859.

Vagabond hosts ‘Social Security’

ANTIOCH — The Vagabond Players will present the comedy “Social Security” at 2 p.m. Sunday at the El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St.

Directed by Sharon Redman, it is one of the most requested plays the Vagabonds have produced. A hit on Broadway, the play centers on an art-dealing couple and a cantankerous mom whom no one seems to want and who winds up surprising everyone.

Baby boomers facing midlife crisis and an aging parent are the basis for this hysterical comedy. Twists and cuteness abound. The point of the comedy, compounded in every way possible, is that “you’re never too old.” The show stars Sheilah Morrison, Carol Scott, Gary Mutz, Marianne Lamberts, Ted Fuller and Bill Toaspern.

ANTIOCH — The Vagabond Players, in collaboration with El Campanil Children’s Theatre, will hold auditions for “The Sound of Music” on April 18 and 21 at the El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St.

The beloved family classic has a cast of 30, with roles for children and adults (a few non-singing roles). Auditions are by appointment, and will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 18 and 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 21. Prepare 16-32 bars from a Rodgers & Hammerstein musical (songs from the show are OK.) Performances will be in June.

BRENTWOOD — The Fridley Art Gallery will host a new show of area artists at the gallery at 613 First St. in the Valverde Building.

The exhibit features artists Barbara Kellner, John Barry, Margaret Hengel and Dana Luedtke. A reception is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The gallery displays work from 45 local artists throughout the building. It is open from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday or by appointment.

The Fridley Art Gallery also is offering oil painting classes for beginners. This is a series of six classes introducing the basics of oil painting. Supplies will be provided by the gallery, and included in the cost of the class. To sign up or for more information, call Fridley at 510-882-1193.

Kinsella offers summer camps

BRENTWOOD — The Kinsella Theater Group will for the first time bring two summer intensive theater camps to East County.

Director and teacher Steve Kinsella has led, consulted or directed for most major theater camps in the Bay Area. His classes will meet three hours daily Monday through Friday.

The Brentwood Teen Theater will host one camp for 13- to 20-year-olds, which will present “West Side Story.” The classes and subsequent performances will run June 8 through July 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. until tech week.

A second camp is for actors ages 8 to 13. The actors will present Barrett Lindsay Steiner’s parody of “The Pirates of the Caribbean,” called “Pirates of the Jelly Bean.” Dates, including performances, are June 8 through July 11, with classes from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 8 through July 11 and on some evenings during tech week.

Cost is $585 for the first camp, and $485 for the second camp. Sibling discounts, some limited scholarships, work-trade and early registration discounts are available. Call 925-516-9009 to register or visit www.brentwoodteentheater.com.

‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on screen

ANTIOCH — The El Campanil Classic Film Series will present “Lawrence of Arabia” (1964) at 2 p.m. March 29 at the theater at 602 W. Second St.

The film stars Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness and Anthony Quinn. Tickets are $6 for general admission, $5 for youths and seniors.

Performances are April 3-11. Admission for this G-rated show is $7 each.

Information: 925-777-0859.

LMC Gallery holds art show

PITTSBURG — The Los Medanos College Art Gallery hosts the Los Medanos College Fourth Invitational High School Student Art Exhibit through April 9 at the gallery at 2700 E. Leland Road.

The show is a juried art exhibition open to all East Contra Costa high school students. Work will be selected and judged, and the winners will be contacted. Students can enter their work in five categories: 1. sculpture and ceramics; 2. drawing and painting; 3. graphic design; 4. digital art; 5. photography. Students with the top art work in each category will be given awards.

The show of local artists’ work is at the Impulse Gallery, 329 Railroad Ave. For more information, call Pacific Community Services at 925-439-1056.

Hapgood presents Auburn’s ‘Proof’

ANTIOCH — The Hapgood Theatre Company will present David Auburn’s “Proof” through March 29 at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center theater, 213 F St.

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for drama and the Tony Award, “Proof” centers on the daughter of a recently deceased, brilliant but disturbed, math genius. The Hapgood play will star Sarah Kate Anderson, Kyle Payne, Kim Saunders and Dan Cawthon.

Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and at 4 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets are $38 each for adults, $35 for seniors, $19 for students. For tickets, see www.hapgoodtheatre.org. or call 925-757-9500.

Judith Prieve is an East Bay journalist. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she has worked as a reporter, features editor and assistant metro editor at newspapers in Wisconsin and Northern California and has been at what is now the Bay Area News Group for more than 25 years.